Weingut Werlitsch is a Biodynamic winery in the South Styria sub-region of Austria.

Owners: Ewald Tscheppe (0676.3448390) and his wife Brigitte. Ewald’s sister Maria is one half of Weingut Maria & Sepp Muster.

Vineyards: 9 hectares (22 acres) on two sites. Overall 80% Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay (Morillon), plus a little Welschriesling and other grapes. Soils of Kalkmergel (chalky marl) and Opokboden (clay-silt). The vines are on two sites. There are 8 hectares (19.8 acres) near the winery. An old mixed vineyard here contains Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The other vineyard lies a 20 minute drive away, has sandy soil, and is planted with 1 hectare (2.47 acres) of Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc and Scheurebe (Sämling 88).

Polyculture: Walnuts for oil and liqueur, grape juice, and white wine vinegar.

Certification: 2008 First vintage with full Demeter Biodynamic certification. | 2017 Still certified Biodynamic by Demeter.

Winemaking: 100% MLF. Aged in wood (Holzfässern). Amphora.

White wines

Morillon vom Opok: Chardonnay from Opok (clay-silt) soil. | 2011 25 mg/l total sulfites (RAW London 17/18 May 2015). | 2014 Reduced, sour apple, crowdpleaser for hipsters (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Sauvignon Blanc Vom Opok: Sauvignon Blanc from Opok (clay-silt) soil.

Ex Vero I: Latin for ‘from the true and genuine’. Basic line from flat clay soils, giving wines with good if basic structure. | 2006 61mg/l total sulftes. 2008 80% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. 5 tonnes. 12% alcohol. 1.2 g/l residual sugar. 4,000 bottles. Citric, full bodied, smoky, crisp (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2009 30mg/l total sulftes.

Ex Vero II: | A step up in quality from the Ex Vero I range. From less heavy soils, with lower yields. | 2006 61mg/l total sulftes. | 2007 45mg/l total sulftes. / 2008 80% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. 5 tonnes. 6,000 bottles. 52mg/l total sulftes. Nice, bready (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2010 17 mg/l total sulfites. | 2011 20 mg/l total sulfites.

Ex Vero IIIFrom the lowest-yielding vines on steep, bowl shaped, south-facing terrain. | 2008 60% Sauvignon Blanc + 40% Chardonnay. 2,000 bottles. Smoky (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2010 18 mg/l total sulfites. | 2011 18 mg/l total sulfites. Very natural and fresh, but underneath some very reduced aromas (Real Wine Fair 2017).

AmphorenweinFermented and stored in kveri. | 2009 Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc. 6-7months on skins in buried amphora. Pressed. Into oak for two years. 20mg/l total sulftes. 12% alcohol. 800 bottles. Nice Grüner Veltliner style, but slightly odd with the presence of Sauvignon Blanc’s apparent marmelade citrus (Millésime Bio 2012).

Werlitsch2012 No added sulfites.

Bibliography

Isabelle Legeron MW, Natural Wine, An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines grown naturally (2014, Cico Books, London & New York), p156.

RAW 2015, London 17/18 May.

Real Wine Fair 2017, Tobacco Dock, London 07th May.

Contact

Weingut Werlitsch (Ewald Tscheppe)

Glanz 75

A-8463 Leutschach, Austria

Tel+ 03454.391 | Website: www.werlitsch.com